Redefining federalism?

Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge's prepared statement at Harvard Business School's Leadership and Values Forum

Homeland Privacy

The Executive Director of the Center for Democracy & Technology presented a statement today before the House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.

The topic was on our privacy "in the Hands of the Government" and focused upon the Privacy Officer for the Department of Homeland Security.

Should there be more Privacy Officers in government agencies? How effective can they be?

Where's my Press Pass?

The Online Journalism Review takes a look at how the criteria to determine access to the government may need some review when it comes to online media: New Media Often Takes Back Seat to Old Media on Press Credentials

You can hear it in my voice

If I told you that Voice Stress analysis was an effective way of determining whether someone was telling the truth or not, would you believe me? (Later - even better: would a juror?)

The test is used by police officers and insurance investigators.

Some federal studies are coming up with less than stellar results for its efficacy as a truth determining tool.

Sugar, Sugar, oh Honey, Honey

I like this announcement: Australia, US strike free trade deal, though I'm not sure I understand why Australian sugar isn't included.

Finding Directors on the Inside

An interesting article is in the latest online issue of Corporate Board Member Magazine from former Delaware Chancellor William T. Allen. Entitled An Outside-the-Box Idea: Go Inside for Directors, it focuses upon the benefits of sometimes moving senior managers onto the Board.

He makes a strong case for the idea, too.

Doubt in Digital Images?

Is the digital enhancement of photographs "junk" science? A recent case in Florida saw challenges based upon that notion, and the murder trial ended in an acquittal.

So, what are the differences between analog and digital images, and should it make a difference in the courtroom? The FBI has an interesting set of Recommendations and Guidelines for the Use of Digital Image Processing in the Criminal Justice System, Forensic Science Communicaton

The Guidelines contain some nice examples of enhancements to digital images. There are a lot of issues to consider when it comes to the ability to digitally enhance images. There is some potential to make challenges to the technology interesting.